Differential regulation of monocyte cytokine release by αV and β2 integrins that bind CD23:
- Edkins, Adrienne L, Borland, Gillian, Acharya, Mridu, Cogdell, Richard, Ozanne, Bradford W, Cushley, William
- Authors: Edkins, Adrienne L , Borland, Gillian , Acharya, Mridu , Cogdell, Richard , Ozanne, Bradford W , Cushley, William
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165153 , vital:41213 , DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2012.03576.x
- Description: The human soluble CD23 (sCD23) protein displays highly pleiotropic cytokine‐like activity. Monocytic cells express the sCD23‐binding integrins αVβ3, αVβ5, αMβ2 and αXβ2, but it is unclear which of these four integrins most acutely regulates sCD23‐driven cytokine release. The hypothesis that ligation of different sCD23‐binding integrins promoted release of distinct subsets of cytokines was tested. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and sCD23 promoted release of distinct groups of cytokines from the THP‐1 model cell line.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Edkins, Adrienne L , Borland, Gillian , Acharya, Mridu , Cogdell, Richard , Ozanne, Bradford W , Cushley, William
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165153 , vital:41213 , DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2012.03576.x
- Description: The human soluble CD23 (sCD23) protein displays highly pleiotropic cytokine‐like activity. Monocytic cells express the sCD23‐binding integrins αVβ3, αVβ5, αMβ2 and αXβ2, but it is unclear which of these four integrins most acutely regulates sCD23‐driven cytokine release. The hypothesis that ligation of different sCD23‐binding integrins promoted release of distinct subsets of cytokines was tested. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and sCD23 promoted release of distinct groups of cytokines from the THP‐1 model cell line.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Domestic workers: discussion document 27-29 March 2012
- Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Authors: Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Labor unions South Africa , Household employees South Africa , Cosatu
- Language: English
- Type: book , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68711 , vital:29307
- Description: The 5th Cosatu Congress resolved that a research be commissioned by the CEC and conducted by Naledi on the need for establishment of advice centres for servicing and assisting domestic workers. Again, part of the resolution indicated that we should consider finding a viable home for domestic workers. As we move towards the 11th Cosatu Gender Conference, we need to reflect and take stock of the previous resolutions passed on domestic workers, assess the strategies/ steps taken for implementation and make a way forward. This paper has arisen as a follow-up of the afore-mentioned resolution including the commitment made by Cosatu on the Summit held between 27-28 August 2011 which the federation hosted in partnership with the South African Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU) and the South African Office of the ILO. The aim is to stimulate and resuscitate discussions on domestic work acknowledging the positive steps taken at international level of adoption of ILO Convention 189 (C189) on Decent Work for Domestic Workers and its Recommendation 201 (R201).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Labor unions South Africa , Household employees South Africa , Cosatu
- Language: English
- Type: book , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68711 , vital:29307
- Description: The 5th Cosatu Congress resolved that a research be commissioned by the CEC and conducted by Naledi on the need for establishment of advice centres for servicing and assisting domestic workers. Again, part of the resolution indicated that we should consider finding a viable home for domestic workers. As we move towards the 11th Cosatu Gender Conference, we need to reflect and take stock of the previous resolutions passed on domestic workers, assess the strategies/ steps taken for implementation and make a way forward. This paper has arisen as a follow-up of the afore-mentioned resolution including the commitment made by Cosatu on the Summit held between 27-28 August 2011 which the federation hosted in partnership with the South African Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU) and the South African Office of the ILO. The aim is to stimulate and resuscitate discussions on domestic work acknowledging the positive steps taken at international level of adoption of ILO Convention 189 (C189) on Decent Work for Domestic Workers and its Recommendation 201 (R201).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Dragging young people down the drain: the mobile phone, gossip mobile website Outoilet and the creation of a mobile ghetto
- Authors: Schoon, Alette
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147858 , vital:38679 , DOI: 10.1080/02560046.2012.744723
- Description: This qualitative study uses the domestication model to describe how a geographically based gossip mobile website, Outoilet (old toilet), helped to shape the meanings of everyday life for young adults in Hooggenoeg, a poor black low-income urban settlement in Grahamstown, South Africa. All the residents here know one another and there is very little privacy, and the mobile phone, during the period of this research, reinforced the lack of privacy through gossip. Such gossip promoted an inward-looking collective sociability. As this article demonstrates, subjects of gossip avoided the streets to escape collective surveillance. Outoilet's explicit sexual language seemed to target those who attempted social mobility by replicating local discourses of respectability and shame. Contrary to findings from other contexts, the mobile phone here thus promoted a collective sociability and may have discouraged mobility as well as economic development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Schoon, Alette
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147858 , vital:38679 , DOI: 10.1080/02560046.2012.744723
- Description: This qualitative study uses the domestication model to describe how a geographically based gossip mobile website, Outoilet (old toilet), helped to shape the meanings of everyday life for young adults in Hooggenoeg, a poor black low-income urban settlement in Grahamstown, South Africa. All the residents here know one another and there is very little privacy, and the mobile phone, during the period of this research, reinforced the lack of privacy through gossip. Such gossip promoted an inward-looking collective sociability. As this article demonstrates, subjects of gossip avoided the streets to escape collective surveillance. Outoilet's explicit sexual language seemed to target those who attempted social mobility by replicating local discourses of respectability and shame. Contrary to findings from other contexts, the mobile phone here thus promoted a collective sociability and may have discouraged mobility as well as economic development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Educational perspectives on social learning theory: antecedents and starting points for research
- Lotz-Sisitka, Heila, Mukute, Mutizwa, Belay, Million
- Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Mukute, Mutizwa , Belay, Million
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436612 , vital:73286 , ISBN 978-1-919991-81-8 , https://transformativelearning.education/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/reviews-on-social-learning-literature.pdf
- Description: This paper contributes to the social learning literature. It argues that there is a need to give attention to the antecedent literatures that inform understandings of the social in social learning; and the learning in social learning. These antecedent literatures (drawn mainly from sociocultural psychology, learning theory and realist social theory in this paper) are necessary in social learning research, if we are to avoid the problem of ontological collapse in social learning research. The concept of ontologi-cal collapse (after Sfard, 2006) refers to a tendency in modern sciences to objectify social processes. It is used in this paper to draw attention to the need to understand the complex social processes involved in social learn-ing (and the antecedent literatures that may enable us to do so). As such, it warns against reification in social learning research; and also warns against turning social learning into an object, devoid of complex learning processes and agentive reflexions, decision making and practices. To clar-ify this concept, the paper shares examples of instances of ontological collapse, showing that at times, the social learning literature itself can fall victim to the problem of ontological collapse. Drawing on the literature review work in two cases studies of social learning research that work carefully with the antecedent literatures, the paper demonstrates the im-portance of engaging carefully with these literatures to avoid ontological collapse in social learning research in the fields of environmental education and natural resources management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Mukute, Mutizwa , Belay, Million
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436612 , vital:73286 , ISBN 978-1-919991-81-8 , https://transformativelearning.education/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/reviews-on-social-learning-literature.pdf
- Description: This paper contributes to the social learning literature. It argues that there is a need to give attention to the antecedent literatures that inform understandings of the social in social learning; and the learning in social learning. These antecedent literatures (drawn mainly from sociocultural psychology, learning theory and realist social theory in this paper) are necessary in social learning research, if we are to avoid the problem of ontological collapse in social learning research. The concept of ontologi-cal collapse (after Sfard, 2006) refers to a tendency in modern sciences to objectify social processes. It is used in this paper to draw attention to the need to understand the complex social processes involved in social learn-ing (and the antecedent literatures that may enable us to do so). As such, it warns against reification in social learning research; and also warns against turning social learning into an object, devoid of complex learning processes and agentive reflexions, decision making and practices. To clar-ify this concept, the paper shares examples of instances of ontological collapse, showing that at times, the social learning literature itself can fall victim to the problem of ontological collapse. Drawing on the literature review work in two cases studies of social learning research that work carefully with the antecedent literatures, the paper demonstrates the im-portance of engaging carefully with these literatures to avoid ontological collapse in social learning research in the fields of environmental education and natural resources management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Effect of fluoroquinolones antibiotics on vancomycin and oxacillin resistant staphylococcus species in Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Soyege, Oludotun
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Staphylococcus aureus , Quinolone antibacterial agents , Fluoroquinolones
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25349 , vital:64212
- Description: This study shows the susceptibility profile of some Staphylococcus species isolated from commensal Staphylococci in Nkonkobe municipality, South Africa. A total number of 120 Staphylococcal isolates were screened for their susceptibilities to various classes of antibiotics such as Aminoglycoside (Gentamycin), Aminoglycoside (Kanamycin), Macrolide (Erythromycin), Tetracycline (Minocycline), Anti-tuberculous (Rifampicin), Lincosamides (Clindamycin), Cephalosporin and Fluoroquinolones in general. During the study, 32 (26percent) the test organisms were susceptible to both methicillin and vancomycin, while 12 (10percent) had co-resistance to the antibiotics. Furthermore, Gentamycin (an Aminoglycoside) had a relatively high potency against the isolates with 107 (89.17percent) of the bacteria being susceptible to it, while 10 (8.33percent) were resistant. On the other hand, Erythromycin (a Macrolide) was active against 72 (60percent) of the isolates, while 5 (4.17percent) and 74 (61.67percent) of the isolates yielded intermediate and resistant responses respectively. In addition , 51 (42.5percent) of the isolates were susceptible to rifampicin, while 1 (0.83percent) and 17 (14.17percent) were intermediate and resistant respectively. Ten percent of the isolates screened for their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in this study were positive for mecA gene among the vancomycin-oxacillin resistant strains while van gene was not detected in any of the isolates. This shows how the synergy of both vancomycin and oxacillin contribute to some resistance nature of Staphylococci. In order to overcome this resistance attributes of Staphylococci, to the commonly used antibiotics as discussed under this context, various types of fluoroquinolones were tested. The result shows that less than 10percent of the isolates were generally resistant to the fluoroquinolones except against Nalidix acid to which all the isolates were resistant. Other antibiotics had relatively higher resistance patterns as observed for minocycline (39.51percent), clindamycin (12.75percent), gentamycin (12.31percent) and vancomycin (12.3percent). The new generation fluoroquinolones including Gatifloxacin, Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin and Ciprofloxacin to which less than 5percent of the bacteria are resistant gives some clinical advantage over the Methicillin and Vancomycin resistant strains. About 31percent of the isolates had multiple antibiotic resistance index of ≥1 and suggests animals in the community as potential reservoirs of antibiotic resistance determinants in the environment. Data obtained in this study is of epidemiological importance and valuable for disease control. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2012
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Soyege, Oludotun
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Staphylococcus aureus , Quinolone antibacterial agents , Fluoroquinolones
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25349 , vital:64212
- Description: This study shows the susceptibility profile of some Staphylococcus species isolated from commensal Staphylococci in Nkonkobe municipality, South Africa. A total number of 120 Staphylococcal isolates were screened for their susceptibilities to various classes of antibiotics such as Aminoglycoside (Gentamycin), Aminoglycoside (Kanamycin), Macrolide (Erythromycin), Tetracycline (Minocycline), Anti-tuberculous (Rifampicin), Lincosamides (Clindamycin), Cephalosporin and Fluoroquinolones in general. During the study, 32 (26percent) the test organisms were susceptible to both methicillin and vancomycin, while 12 (10percent) had co-resistance to the antibiotics. Furthermore, Gentamycin (an Aminoglycoside) had a relatively high potency against the isolates with 107 (89.17percent) of the bacteria being susceptible to it, while 10 (8.33percent) were resistant. On the other hand, Erythromycin (a Macrolide) was active against 72 (60percent) of the isolates, while 5 (4.17percent) and 74 (61.67percent) of the isolates yielded intermediate and resistant responses respectively. In addition , 51 (42.5percent) of the isolates were susceptible to rifampicin, while 1 (0.83percent) and 17 (14.17percent) were intermediate and resistant respectively. Ten percent of the isolates screened for their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in this study were positive for mecA gene among the vancomycin-oxacillin resistant strains while van gene was not detected in any of the isolates. This shows how the synergy of both vancomycin and oxacillin contribute to some resistance nature of Staphylococci. In order to overcome this resistance attributes of Staphylococci, to the commonly used antibiotics as discussed under this context, various types of fluoroquinolones were tested. The result shows that less than 10percent of the isolates were generally resistant to the fluoroquinolones except against Nalidix acid to which all the isolates were resistant. Other antibiotics had relatively higher resistance patterns as observed for minocycline (39.51percent), clindamycin (12.75percent), gentamycin (12.31percent) and vancomycin (12.3percent). The new generation fluoroquinolones including Gatifloxacin, Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin and Ciprofloxacin to which less than 5percent of the bacteria are resistant gives some clinical advantage over the Methicillin and Vancomycin resistant strains. About 31percent of the isolates had multiple antibiotic resistance index of ≥1 and suggests animals in the community as potential reservoirs of antibiotic resistance determinants in the environment. Data obtained in this study is of epidemiological importance and valuable for disease control. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2012
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Effectiveness of housing delivery in the Reconstruction and Development Programme in Duncan Village
- Authors: Millie, Lindile Churchill
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Housing development -- South Africa , Public housing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24199 , vital:62441
- Description: The primary objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Housing delivery in the Reconstruction and Development Programme in Duncan Village. This thesis has tried to answer to why there are still places like Duncan Village, situated at the heart of Buffalo City Metropolitan Local Municipality, in the Eastern Cape Province with alarming rate at which the “shanty resident” has been growing and showing no signs of coming to an end? The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative approaches in this research. The researcher conducted the research using officials from the Department of Human Settlements, officials from Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Ward Councillor, and Duncan Village community. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2012
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Millie, Lindile Churchill
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Housing development -- South Africa , Public housing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24199 , vital:62441
- Description: The primary objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Housing delivery in the Reconstruction and Development Programme in Duncan Village. This thesis has tried to answer to why there are still places like Duncan Village, situated at the heart of Buffalo City Metropolitan Local Municipality, in the Eastern Cape Province with alarming rate at which the “shanty resident” has been growing and showing no signs of coming to an end? The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative approaches in this research. The researcher conducted the research using officials from the Department of Human Settlements, officials from Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Ward Councillor, and Duncan Village community. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2012
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Electrocatalytic behavior of cobalt phthalocyanine complexes immobilized on glassy carbon electrode towards the reduction of dicrotophos pesticide
- Vilakazi, Sibulelo, Nyokong, Tebello, Fukuda, Takamitsu, Kobayashi, Nagao
- Authors: Vilakazi, Sibulelo , Nyokong, Tebello , Fukuda, Takamitsu , Kobayashi, Nagao
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/245832 , vital:51409 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424612501040"
- Description: Electrocatalytic properties of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc), cobalt tetra-carboxy phthalocyanine (CoTCPc) and cobalt octa-carboxy (CoOCPc), towards the detection of dicrotophos have been studied. Catalytic behavior towards the reduction of dicrotophos was found to be dependent on the pH, as well as the substitution on the phthalocyanine ring. Strong electron withdrawing groups on the phthalocyanine ring yielded best catalysis as evidenced by the enhancement of the reduction peak current, (~5 fold) compared to the bare glassy carbon electrode. The analysis gave a good detection limit of 1.25 × 10-7 M, and good linearity for the studied concentration range. A high Tafel slope value was obtained, indicating a strong interaction between dicrotophos and the cobalt phthalocyanine complex.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Vilakazi, Sibulelo , Nyokong, Tebello , Fukuda, Takamitsu , Kobayashi, Nagao
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/245832 , vital:51409 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424612501040"
- Description: Electrocatalytic properties of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc), cobalt tetra-carboxy phthalocyanine (CoTCPc) and cobalt octa-carboxy (CoOCPc), towards the detection of dicrotophos have been studied. Catalytic behavior towards the reduction of dicrotophos was found to be dependent on the pH, as well as the substitution on the phthalocyanine ring. Strong electron withdrawing groups on the phthalocyanine ring yielded best catalysis as evidenced by the enhancement of the reduction peak current, (~5 fold) compared to the bare glassy carbon electrode. The analysis gave a good detection limit of 1.25 × 10-7 M, and good linearity for the studied concentration range. A high Tafel slope value was obtained, indicating a strong interaction between dicrotophos and the cobalt phthalocyanine complex.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Electrospun polyacrylic acid polymer fibers functionalized with metallophthalocyanines for photosensitizing and gas sensing applications
- Zugle, Ruphino, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Zugle, Ruphino , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/243543 , vital:51162 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10601325.2012.662006"
- Description: The photophysical and photochemical properties of tetraaminophthalocyanine complexes of lutetium and zinc covalently linked to polyacrylic acid were studied alongside those of unsubstituted zinc phthalocyanine within the same polymeric fiber matrix. All three phthalocyanines within the solid fiber matrices showed photoactivity by the generation of singlet oxygen as was observed in solution. The fluorescence behaviors of the composite fibers equally parallel those in solution. For the unsubstituted zinc phthalocyanine composite, the fiber showed fluorescence quenching on interaction with gaseous nitrogen dioxide similar to that in DMF and, thus could be a promising nanofabric material in developing optoelectronic devices that are responsive to the gas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Zugle, Ruphino , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/243543 , vital:51162 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10601325.2012.662006"
- Description: The photophysical and photochemical properties of tetraaminophthalocyanine complexes of lutetium and zinc covalently linked to polyacrylic acid were studied alongside those of unsubstituted zinc phthalocyanine within the same polymeric fiber matrix. All three phthalocyanines within the solid fiber matrices showed photoactivity by the generation of singlet oxygen as was observed in solution. The fluorescence behaviors of the composite fibers equally parallel those in solution. For the unsubstituted zinc phthalocyanine composite, the fiber showed fluorescence quenching on interaction with gaseous nitrogen dioxide similar to that in DMF and, thus could be a promising nanofabric material in developing optoelectronic devices that are responsive to the gas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Embrace! Invest! Flourish!: Africa rising
- Authors: Malila, Vanessa
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159539 , vital:40306 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC134110
- Description: Currently the trend across Africa within the media landscape is growth - compared with its European and American counterparts who are feeling the full weight of the current financial crisis which has seen many newspapers downsize, cut jobs and suffer massive cost cutting strategies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Malila, Vanessa
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159539 , vital:40306 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC134110
- Description: Currently the trend across Africa within the media landscape is growth - compared with its European and American counterparts who are feeling the full weight of the current financial crisis which has seen many newspapers downsize, cut jobs and suffer massive cost cutting strategies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Ethical deliberations in environmental education workplaces: a case story of contextualised and personalised reflexivity
- Authors: Olvitt, Lausanne L
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/437421 , vital:73377 , ISBN 9789086867578 , https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086867578_0010
- Description: This chapter explores the fluidity and complexity of individual ethical deliberations in an environmental education workplace and ‘teases out’the associated learning processes. Based on the author’s recent doctoral research, the chapter tells the story of one South African environmental educator grappling with environmentoriented ethical tensions in his work. These ten-sions range from immediate officebased concerns such as paper wastage, to wider concerns such as lowering his carbon footprint through his choice of transport. The environmental educator has recently completed a one-year part-time course in environmental education. Does the course’s new capital of concepts and terminology influence his ethical deliberations? Does learning about environmental philosophies and other people’s ethical dilemmas support him to deepen his engage-ment with ethical tensions in his ownwork? The case study suggests that course-based learning processes are not espe-cially influential until they interface with the multi-layered soci-ocultural and historical dynamics in work-based and home-based ethical deliberations. Deciding what is ‘right’, and then teaching others about that ‘rightness’ is not as simple as know-ing the facts or norms, and acting on them. Past experiences, cultural norms, religious convictions, power gradients and even logistical constraints, all influence the nature and outcome of individual ethical deliberations, as do people’s future aspira-tions and their professional identities as environmental educa-tors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Olvitt, Lausanne L
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/437421 , vital:73377 , ISBN 9789086867578 , https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086867578_0010
- Description: This chapter explores the fluidity and complexity of individual ethical deliberations in an environmental education workplace and ‘teases out’the associated learning processes. Based on the author’s recent doctoral research, the chapter tells the story of one South African environmental educator grappling with environmentoriented ethical tensions in his work. These ten-sions range from immediate officebased concerns such as paper wastage, to wider concerns such as lowering his carbon footprint through his choice of transport. The environmental educator has recently completed a one-year part-time course in environmental education. Does the course’s new capital of concepts and terminology influence his ethical deliberations? Does learning about environmental philosophies and other people’s ethical dilemmas support him to deepen his engage-ment with ethical tensions in his ownwork? The case study suggests that course-based learning processes are not espe-cially influential until they interface with the multi-layered soci-ocultural and historical dynamics in work-based and home-based ethical deliberations. Deciding what is ‘right’, and then teaching others about that ‘rightness’ is not as simple as know-ing the facts or norms, and acting on them. Past experiences, cultural norms, religious convictions, power gradients and even logistical constraints, all influence the nature and outcome of individual ethical deliberations, as do people’s future aspira-tions and their professional identities as environmental educa-tors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Evaluation of a service-learning elective as an approach to enhancing the pharmacist's role in health promotion in South Africa
- Srinivas, Sunitha C, Wrench, Wendy W
- Authors: Srinivas, Sunitha C , Wrench, Wendy W
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6443 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006630
- Description: Background. A service-learning (SL) elective offered to final-year pharmacy students was introduced in 2007. The elective demonstrated a holistic approach to creating opportunities for future pharmacists to understand the current needs and future challenges of the burden of disease in developing countries such as South Africa and to foresee their key roles in health promotion. Methods. The 2007 Sasol National Festival of Science and Technology (SciFest) was chosen as the ideal platform to implement this elective. Evaluation of the elective was carried out in association with the Academic Development Centre using a web-based software tool known as the ADC evaluation assistant (ADCEA). The ADCEA consisted of a ‘question bank’ from which the course facilitators selected nine ranked closed questions as well as two open-ended questions. Results. SciFest participation, in the course of the service-learning elective, was acknowledged by students to have prepared them as responsible citizens to undertake health promotion in the public sector healthcare system. Conclusion. Students’ experiences of the learning opportunities provided in the SciFest elective highlight the strengths of this SL programme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Srinivas, Sunitha C , Wrench, Wendy W
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6443 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006630
- Description: Background. A service-learning (SL) elective offered to final-year pharmacy students was introduced in 2007. The elective demonstrated a holistic approach to creating opportunities for future pharmacists to understand the current needs and future challenges of the burden of disease in developing countries such as South Africa and to foresee their key roles in health promotion. Methods. The 2007 Sasol National Festival of Science and Technology (SciFest) was chosen as the ideal platform to implement this elective. Evaluation of the elective was carried out in association with the Academic Development Centre using a web-based software tool known as the ADC evaluation assistant (ADCEA). The ADCEA consisted of a ‘question bank’ from which the course facilitators selected nine ranked closed questions as well as two open-ended questions. Results. SciFest participation, in the course of the service-learning elective, was acknowledged by students to have prepared them as responsible citizens to undertake health promotion in the public sector healthcare system. Conclusion. Students’ experiences of the learning opportunities provided in the SciFest elective highlight the strengths of this SL programme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Exploring relationship between value-and life-orientation and job satisfaction:
- Louw, Lynette, Mayer, Claude-Hélène, Baxter, Jeremy
- Authors: Louw, Lynette , Mayer, Claude-Hélène , Baxter, Jeremy
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142782 , vital:38116 , DOI: 10.4102/ac.v12i1.131
- Description: The purpose of this article is to investigate the relationship between value- and life-orientation and job satisfaction, as well as determining the influence of gender, age and cultural group within the selected South African organisational context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Louw, Lynette , Mayer, Claude-Hélène , Baxter, Jeremy
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142782 , vital:38116 , DOI: 10.4102/ac.v12i1.131
- Description: The purpose of this article is to investigate the relationship between value- and life-orientation and job satisfaction, as well as determining the influence of gender, age and cultural group within the selected South African organisational context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Facile deposition of gold nanoparticle thin films on semi-permeable cellulose substrate
- Sosibo, Ndabenhle, Mdluli, Phumlani, Mashazi, Philani N, Tshikhudo, Robert, Skepu, Amanda, Vilakazi, Sibulelo, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Sosibo, Ndabenhle , Mdluli, Phumlani , Mashazi, Philani N , Tshikhudo, Robert , Skepu, Amanda , Vilakazi, Sibulelo , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/242638 , vital:51063 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2012.08.043"
- Description: This study reports the facile method for the deposition of gold nanoparticle thin film onto a monoporous semi-permeable cellulose membrane through the diffusion of borohydride ions leading to the reduction of AuCl4− ions. The synthesis of gold nanoparticle thin film was deposited on one side of the membrane that was exposed to AuCl4− ions while the other side containing a reducing agent remained clear. The gold nanoparticle thin film exhibited a broad surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 529 nm. Various characterization techniques were employed and all demonstrated the presence of gold thin film. The reported method represents a simplistic method for the deposition of gold nanoparticle thin films and various other metal nanoparticles may be deposited following this method.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Sosibo, Ndabenhle , Mdluli, Phumlani , Mashazi, Philani N , Tshikhudo, Robert , Skepu, Amanda , Vilakazi, Sibulelo , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/242638 , vital:51063 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2012.08.043"
- Description: This study reports the facile method for the deposition of gold nanoparticle thin film onto a monoporous semi-permeable cellulose membrane through the diffusion of borohydride ions leading to the reduction of AuCl4− ions. The synthesis of gold nanoparticle thin film was deposited on one side of the membrane that was exposed to AuCl4− ions while the other side containing a reducing agent remained clear. The gold nanoparticle thin film exhibited a broad surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 529 nm. Various characterization techniques were employed and all demonstrated the presence of gold thin film. The reported method represents a simplistic method for the deposition of gold nanoparticle thin films and various other metal nanoparticles may be deposited following this method.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Firm age, collateral value, and access to debt financing in an emerging economy: evidence from South Africa
- Authors: Ezeoha,Abel , Botha, Ferdi
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/396060 , vital:69147 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC31367"
- Description: This paper applies the Blundell and Bond system generalised method of moments (GMM) two-step estimator to examine the impact of age and collateral value on debt financing, using a panel of 177 non-financial companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange over the period 1999 to 2009. The results show that South African firms have target leverage ratios and adjust their capital structures from time to time to achieve their respective targets, that the relationship between firm age and debt financing is non-monotonic, and that firms with higher collateral value are likely to face fewer constraints on borrowing and therefore have greater access to medium-term and long-term debts. Robustness tests also reveal that during start-up and maturity stages, a firm's access to debt markets is significantly influenced by investments in assets that are acceptable to external creditors as collateral. These findings suggest that debt financing policies could be more critical for firms in the start-up and maturity stages.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Ezeoha,Abel , Botha, Ferdi
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/396060 , vital:69147 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC31367"
- Description: This paper applies the Blundell and Bond system generalised method of moments (GMM) two-step estimator to examine the impact of age and collateral value on debt financing, using a panel of 177 non-financial companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange over the period 1999 to 2009. The results show that South African firms have target leverage ratios and adjust their capital structures from time to time to achieve their respective targets, that the relationship between firm age and debt financing is non-monotonic, and that firms with higher collateral value are likely to face fewer constraints on borrowing and therefore have greater access to medium-term and long-term debts. Robustness tests also reveal that during start-up and maturity stages, a firm's access to debt markets is significantly influenced by investments in assets that are acceptable to external creditors as collateral. These findings suggest that debt financing policies could be more critical for firms in the start-up and maturity stages.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Five unpublished coins of Alexander the Great and his successors in the Rhodes University Collection
- Snowball, Jeanette D, Snowball, Warren D
- Authors: Snowball, Jeanette D , Snowball, Warren D
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68489 , vital:29267 , http://dx.doi.org/10.7445/50-0-73
- Description: Publisher version , The article briefly discusses the economic and political significance of the Alexander III (“the Great”) type silver tetradrachm and publishes three of his coins currently held by the Rhodes University Classics Museum. Based on stylistic elements, they are classified as from the Amphipolis and Arados mints and were probably minted during his lifetime. Two further tetradrachms from the empires of Alexander’s successors, Ptolemy II and Seleucus IV, are also published.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Five unpublished coins of Alexander the Great and his successors in the Rhodes University Collection
- Authors: Snowball, Jeanette D , Snowball, Warren D
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68489 , vital:29267 , http://dx.doi.org/10.7445/50-0-73
- Description: Publisher version , The article briefly discusses the economic and political significance of the Alexander III (“the Great”) type silver tetradrachm and publishes three of his coins currently held by the Rhodes University Classics Museum. Based on stylistic elements, they are classified as from the Amphipolis and Arados mints and were probably minted during his lifetime. Two further tetradrachms from the empires of Alexander’s successors, Ptolemy II and Seleucus IV, are also published.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Functional programming and security
- Authors: Motara, Yusuf, M
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428985 , vital:72551 , https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1201.5728
- Description: This paper analyses the security contribution of typical functional-language features by examining them in the light of accepted information security principles. Imperative and functional code are compared to illustrate various cases. In conclusion, there may be an excellent case for the use of functional languages on the grounds of better security; however, empirical research should be done to validate this possibility.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Motara, Yusuf, M
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428985 , vital:72551 , https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1201.5728
- Description: This paper analyses the security contribution of typical functional-language features by examining them in the light of accepted information security principles. Imperative and functional code are compared to illustrate various cases. In conclusion, there may be an excellent case for the use of functional languages on the grounds of better security; however, empirical research should be done to validate this possibility.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Gender Policy: discussion document 27-29 March 2012
- Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Authors: Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: book , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68759 , vital:29312
- Description: The Gender policy draws together existing COSATU resolutions into a coherent document, while further enriching these resolutions. This document aims to combine the vision and principles that we aspire towards, with practical relations in the working workplace and economy, in trade unions and in broader society. The issue of gender equality has been on our agenda since the formation of COSATU. However, we require a policy framework to guide our struggles to transform gender relations in the current period. It is therefore important that we reflect on progress in taking forward the vision and programmes adopted on several Congresses since COSATU inception. In broad terms, progress to realise these resolutions has been uneven and varies between affiliates. COSATU and its affiliates are guided by a vision of a society free of sexism, racism, class exploitation, and other forms of oppression. We envisage a future where women participate equally in the economy and society without barriers, and where women are emancipated from all forms of oppression in the household, the workplace and in broader society. We have a vision of a trade union movement as a home for women workers. This policy document was debated and adopted and the National Gender Conference (held on 5-7 July 2000). It is tabled at Congress for discussion and adoption. Once it has been adopted by the Congress all affiliates will have to give expression to this broad framework in their own policies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: book , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68759 , vital:29312
- Description: The Gender policy draws together existing COSATU resolutions into a coherent document, while further enriching these resolutions. This document aims to combine the vision and principles that we aspire towards, with practical relations in the working workplace and economy, in trade unions and in broader society. The issue of gender equality has been on our agenda since the formation of COSATU. However, we require a policy framework to guide our struggles to transform gender relations in the current period. It is therefore important that we reflect on progress in taking forward the vision and programmes adopted on several Congresses since COSATU inception. In broad terms, progress to realise these resolutions has been uneven and varies between affiliates. COSATU and its affiliates are guided by a vision of a society free of sexism, racism, class exploitation, and other forms of oppression. We envisage a future where women participate equally in the economy and society without barriers, and where women are emancipated from all forms of oppression in the household, the workplace and in broader society. We have a vision of a trade union movement as a home for women workers. This policy document was debated and adopted and the National Gender Conference (held on 5-7 July 2000). It is tabled at Congress for discussion and adoption. Once it has been adopted by the Congress all affiliates will have to give expression to this broad framework in their own policies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Geo-spatial autocorrelation as a metric for the detection of fast-flux botnet domains
- Stalmans, Etienne, Hunter, Samuel O, Irwin, Barry V W
- Authors: Stalmans, Etienne , Hunter, Samuel O , Irwin, Barry V W
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429799 , vital:72640 , 10.1109/ISSA.2012.6320433
- Description: Botnets consist of thousands of hosts infected with malware. Botnet owners communicate with these hosts using Command and Control (C2) servers. These C2 servers are usually infected hosts which the botnet owners do not have physical access to. For this reason botnets can be shut down by taking over or blocking the C2 servers. Botnet owners have employed numerous shutdown avoidance techniques. One of these techniques, DNS Fast-Flux, relies on rapidly changing address records. The addresses returned by the Fast-Flux DNS servers consist of geographically widely distributed hosts. The distributed nature of Fast-Flux botnets differs from legitimate domains, which tend to have geographically clustered server locations. This paper examines the use of spatial autocorrelation techniques based on the geographic distribution of domain servers to detect Fast-Flux domains. Moran's I and Geary's C are used to produce classifiers using multiple geographic co-ordinate systems to produce efficient and accurate results. It is shown how Fast-Flux domains can be detected reliably while only a small percentage of false positives are produced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Stalmans, Etienne , Hunter, Samuel O , Irwin, Barry V W
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429799 , vital:72640 , 10.1109/ISSA.2012.6320433
- Description: Botnets consist of thousands of hosts infected with malware. Botnet owners communicate with these hosts using Command and Control (C2) servers. These C2 servers are usually infected hosts which the botnet owners do not have physical access to. For this reason botnets can be shut down by taking over or blocking the C2 servers. Botnet owners have employed numerous shutdown avoidance techniques. One of these techniques, DNS Fast-Flux, relies on rapidly changing address records. The addresses returned by the Fast-Flux DNS servers consist of geographically widely distributed hosts. The distributed nature of Fast-Flux botnets differs from legitimate domains, which tend to have geographically clustered server locations. This paper examines the use of spatial autocorrelation techniques based on the geographic distribution of domain servers to detect Fast-Flux domains. Moran's I and Geary's C are used to produce classifiers using multiple geographic co-ordinate systems to produce efficient and accurate results. It is shown how Fast-Flux domains can be detected reliably while only a small percentage of false positives are produced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Graviton n-point functions for UV-complete theories in Anti-de Sitter space
- Authors: Brustein, R , Medved, A J M
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6820 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004427
- Description: We calculate graviton n-point functions in an anti-de Sitter black brane background for effective gravity theories whose linearized equations of motion have at most two time derivatives. We compare the n-point functions in Einstein gravity to those in theories whose leading correction is quadratic in the Riemann tensor. The comparison is made for any number of gravitons and for all physical graviton modes in a kinematic region for which the leading correction can significantly modify the Einstein result. We find that the n-point functions of Einstein gravity depend on at most a single angle, whereas those of the corrected theories may depend on two angles. For the four-point functions, Einstein gravity exhibits linear dependence on the Mandelstam variable s versus a quadratic dependence on s for the corrected theory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Brustein, R , Medved, A J M
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6820 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004427
- Description: We calculate graviton n-point functions in an anti-de Sitter black brane background for effective gravity theories whose linearized equations of motion have at most two time derivatives. We compare the n-point functions in Einstein gravity to those in theories whose leading correction is quadratic in the Riemann tensor. The comparison is made for any number of gravitons and for all physical graviton modes in a kinematic region for which the leading correction can significantly modify the Einstein result. We find that the n-point functions of Einstein gravity depend on at most a single angle, whereas those of the corrected theories may depend on two angles. For the four-point functions, Einstein gravity exhibits linear dependence on the Mandelstam variable s versus a quadratic dependence on s for the corrected theory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Guy Butler’s South Africanism: ‘Being present where you are’
- Authors: Wright, Laurence
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: vital:7069 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007460 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10131752.2012.730182
- Description: preprint , A peer-reviewed lecture delivered at Rhodes University on the occasion of the presentation to Professor Wright of the English Academy's Gold Medal, 16 November 2011. Guy Butler (1918-2001) has been gone some ten years. This lecture sets out to illuminate the thinking behind his important role in South Africa's national life. The institutions he created continue to make vital cultural contributions in South Africa's efforts to make sense of its own complex historical make-up, working towards a happier, richer, and more equal future. However, despite what he achieved, there is little surety that today the rationale informing his massive effort to foster processes of artistic and cultural endeavour has been appreciated or accurately understood.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Wright, Laurence
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: vital:7069 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007460 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10131752.2012.730182
- Description: preprint , A peer-reviewed lecture delivered at Rhodes University on the occasion of the presentation to Professor Wright of the English Academy's Gold Medal, 16 November 2011. Guy Butler (1918-2001) has been gone some ten years. This lecture sets out to illuminate the thinking behind his important role in South Africa's national life. The institutions he created continue to make vital cultural contributions in South Africa's efforts to make sense of its own complex historical make-up, working towards a happier, richer, and more equal future. However, despite what he achieved, there is little surety that today the rationale informing his massive effort to foster processes of artistic and cultural endeavour has been appreciated or accurately understood.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012